aitken



May 26, 1931.

A. A. A|TKEN HUIIDIFIER Filed Nov. 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

4:? INVENTOB ALlAN-A'A|TKEN FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS y 1931- A. A. AITKEN 1,806,729

HUIIDIFIER Filed NOV. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT 0R ALLAN-A-AITKENF1 6. 5 a/flmzw /ra ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1931 ALLAN A. AITKE'N',0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA HUMIDIFIER Application filed November 21,1929. Serial No. 408,910.

This invention relates to humidifiers of the portable hydroelectrictype, in which steam is generated by immersing spaced electrodes in abody of water contained in a suitable vessel.

The objects of the invention are to provide a humidifier which iscompact, easy to handle and economical to manufacture; to provide ahumidifier in which relatively small quantities of water aresubstantially segregated from a surrounding main body of water andrapidly converted into steam; to provide a humidifier in which the saidrelatively small quantities of water are segregated with in anon-conducting, heat insulating, steam generating vessel surrounded bythe main body of water contained in a suitable outer vessel which isalso made of non-conducting material; to provide a humidifier in whichsteam is generated in said steam generating chamber withoutsubstantially raising the temperature of the surrounding body of water;to provide a humidifier which may be handled with absolute safety whilein operation; to provide a humidifier equipped with electrodes havingthe lower portions enlarged to compensate for the lowering of the waterlevel during the progress of steam generation; to provide a humidifierequipped with electrodes shaped to prevent excessive current dischargebetween the edge portions thereof; and, finally, to provide a humidifierin which the electrodes and the current charged water are renderedinaccessible while the humidifier is in operation, thereby eliminating;the danger of accidental shock or electrocution.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a humidifier constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken along the line33 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 Figure2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a particular form of clamp.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a bowl shapedcontainer made of glass or other suitable insulating ma- 65 terial. Theupper portion of the container is inwardly curved, as indicated at 12,and terminates in an outwardly flanged rim 13 surrounding a fillingopening 14. The filling opening is closed by a cover 15 which ispreferably made of a suitable non-conducting heat insulating materialsuch as porcelain. The marginal portion of the cover is shaped to snuglyengage a seat 16 formed around the inner edge of rim 13. The centralportion of the cover is made in the form of a hollow steam dome 17provided at the top with a relatively small central opening 18.

The cover 15 carries a pair of opposing electrodes 19 and 20 havingtheir opposing" body portions spaced apart by an interposed disk 21formed of suitable insulating material and provided with supportingtrunnions 22 received in suitable openings formed in said electrodes. Attheir upper ends the electrodes 19 and 20 are provided with offsetextensions 23 and 24, which lie flat against an interior wall 25 of thedome 17 and are spaced from one another by the interposition of a rib 26(Fig. 3) formed integral with said wall. Passing through the wall 25 area pair of terminals 27 having their inner ends equipped with nuts 28 bymeans of which the electrode extensions 23 and 24 are clamped to saidwall. The outer portions of' the terminals 27 are contained in a recess29 (Fig. 2) formed in one side of dome 17. This recess aflords areceptacle for a plug 30 which is connected to any suitable source ofcurrent and is provided with suitable terminal sockets 31 for thereception of the terminals 27. This plug carries a hook 32, which, whenthe plug is applied, as shown in Figure 2, is adapted to engage beneaththe outwardly flanged rim 13. Surrounding the electrodes 19 and 20 andformed integral with the cover 15 is a depending collar 33. This collarprovides an abutment for the upper edge of an inner vessel or ar 34. Thevessel 34 is also formed of nonconducting heat insulating material suchas porcelain and provides a housing for the electrodes 19 and 20. Thejoint formed by the contacting edges of the collar 33 and the innervessel 34 is sealed by a suitable gasket 35 surrounded by a split clamp36. This clamp, as shown to advantage in Figures 2 and 5, has its freeterminals split longitudinally as indicated at 36a, in order to providea pair of upper clampingfingers 36b,anda pair of lower clampin fingers36c. Suitable bolts 36d are passed through the fingers of each pair andare equipped with clampin nuts 36a. When the clamp is arranged as s ownin Figure 1, the upper fingers 36?) are 1 drawn tightly aroundthe-collar 33, while the lower fingers 360 are drawn tightly around theupper end of the inner vessel or jar 34.

The clamp 36 carries a laterally rojecting member 39 adapted, as shownin igures 1 and 2, to engage beneath the inwardly curved portion 12 ofthe container 11. This projection 39 co-operates with the hook 32 of theplug 30 to prevent removal of the cover 15 when the plug is in theapplied position shown in Figures 1 and 2. In order to remove the cover,it is necessary to disconnect the plug 30 and this, of course,interrupts the ow of current to the electrodes 19 and 20 anddiscontinues the charging of the water in container 11. This is animportant safety feature whereby access to the electrodes or to theinterior of the vessel 11 is prevented while the humidifier is in oeration, thus eliminating all danger of acci ental shock orelectrocution. Y

' The inner jar or vessel 34 is provided with a relatively small bottomopening 42 through which a comparatively small volume of Water is causedto flow into the interior of said jar and is thereby substantiallysegregated from the main body of water contained in the container 11.The small volume of water, segregated within the jar 34, is rapidlyconverted into steam by means of the electrodes 19 and 20 and withoutraising the temperature of the surrounding main body of water to theboiling point. As a matter of fact, the main body of Water surroundingthe inner vessel or jar 34 will remain at a temperature low enough topermit the container 11 to be safely handled Without danger of beingburnt.

As shown to advantage in Figure 3, the electrodes 19 and 20 are made ofgradually increasing Width towards their lower ends so as to compensatefor the gradual lowering of the water level during the progress of steamgeneration. By employing electrodes of this particular design, it hasbeen found that the quantity of steam generated varies only sli htlyover a comparatively long period 0 operation. It will also be noted thatthe electrodes are cupped or transversely curved so that the edgeportions of each electrode extend in a direction away from the opposingelectrode; This construction is of. advantage, in that it eliminatessharp edgzs which cause excessive passage of current tween the marginalportions of the electrodes. j

. Having thus-fully described what I now consider tobe the preferredembodiment of my invention, ous modifications may be resorted towithinthe scope Hav n thus described my invention, what I claim 1s 1. Ahumidifier comprising a water con j tamer, a removable cover closing afilling opening formed in said container, electric steam generatingmeans positioned in sand container and including suitable terminalscarried by the cover, a plug en ageable with i said terminalsforconnectmg t e steam generating means to a suitable'source of current,and co-operating elements carried by said cover and plugfor engaging thecontainer and spirit of the appended claims;

it will be understood that vari-' to prevent removal of the cover whenthe per end secured to said cover, said inner vessel being provided atthe bottom with a relatively small opening, and said cover beingprovided with a relatively small central opening afiording a steamoutlet for the inner vessel. v

a 3. A humidifier, comprising a water-container, a movable coverclosing, a filling opening formed in said container, electrodes carriedby the cover and, extending downwardly therefrom, a depending collarformed integral with the cover and surrounding said electrodes, saidinner vessel having its upper end open and engaging the lower edge ofsaid collar, said inner vessel having a relatively small bottom openingand said cover having. a relatively small central opening placing in theinterior of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere andmeans for clamping the inner vessel to said collar. 7

4. A humidifier as recited in claim 3 in cluding a gasket coveringthejoint formed: between said collar and inner vessel and held; in placeby said clamping means.

5. A humidifier comprising an outer ves-j sel, a cover closing a fillingopening in the" top of said vessel, an inner vessel depending from thecover in spaced relation to the bottom and side walls of'the' outervessel, said outer vessel being adaptedto contain a body: of watersurrounding the side and bottom walls of the inner vessel and said innervessel,

segregated from the main bod portion of the inner vessel being havingits lower end closed except for a relatively small opening serving toadmit therein asmall quantity of water which is thereby of water, and eectrodes contained within t e inner vessel for converting the segregateinto steam, said cover being formed with a steam discharge openingplacing the upper end of the inner vessel in communication with theatmosphere.

6. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body ofwater and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closingsaid opening, an inner vessel having its upper end releasably secured tothe central portion of the cover so as to be supported in spacedrelation to the bottom and side walls of the outer vessel,\the lowerapertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which isthereby subsequently segregated from the main body of water contained inthe outer vessel, and electrodes contained within the inner vessel forconverting the se regate into steam, said cover being forms with acentral steam discharge opening placing the upper end of the innervessel in communication with the atmosphere.

7. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body ofwater and provided with a top fillin opening, a removable cover closingsaid lling opening, a collar depending from the central portion of saidcover, an'inner vessel having its upper end secured to said collar andthereby supported in spaced relation to the side and bottom walls o:f-..the outer vessel, the lower portion of the inner vessel being aperturedto admit therein a relatively small uantity of water which is therebysegregate from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel andelectrodes contained within the inner vessel for converting thesegregate into steam, said cover being formed with a central steamdischarge opening placing the upper 4 end of the inner vessel incommunication with the atmosphere. I

8. A humidifier comprisi an outer vessel adapted to contain a body 0water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closingsaid filling opening, a pair of depending electrodes having their upperends I secured to said cover, an inner vessel surrounding saidelectrodes, the upper end of the inner vessel being releasabl secured tosaid cover and the lower end 0 the inner vessel being apertured to admittherein a relatively small quantity of water which is therebysubstantially segregated from the main body ofwater contained in theouter vessel, said cover being provided with a central steam dischargeopening placing the upper end of the inner vessel in communication withthe atmosphere.

9. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body ofwater and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closingsaid opening, the cen tral ortion of the cover being in the form of a holow steam dome provided at the top with a steam discharge opening, apair of spaced, depending electrodes having their upper ends secured inthe dome ortion of the cover, an inner casing surroun ing saidelectrodes, the u per end of said inner casing being releasably securedto said cover and the lower end being apertured to admit therein arelativel small quantity of water which is thereby su stantiallysegregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel.

' 10. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a bodyof water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable coverclosing said opening, the central portion of said cover being in theform of a hollow' steam dome provided at the top with a steam dischargeopening, an inner vessel having its upper end releasably secured to saidcover in communication with said steam dome, the lower end of said innervessel being apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity ofwater which is thereby-substantially segregated from the main body ofwater contained in the outer vessel, and electrodes contained within theinner vessel for converting the segregate into steam which is dischargedto the atmosphere via the opening formed in the top of the steam dome.

11. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body ofwater and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closingsaid opening, said cover being formed with a'central steam dischargeopening and with a depending collar surrounding said opening, an innervessel having its upper end open and abutting the lower edge of saidcollar and having its lower end apertured to admit therein a relativelysmall quantity of water which is thereby substantially segregated fromthe main body of water contained in the outer vessel, an annular gasketsurrounding the collar and the upper end of the inner vessel and closingthe joint therebetween, a clamping member surrounding said gasket andservlng to support the inner vessel, and electrodes contamed within theinner vessel for converting the segregate into steam.

'12. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a bodyof water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable coverclosing said opening, the central portion of said cover bein shaped toprovide an upwardly projecting fiollow steam dome having a top steamdischarge opening, terminal members projecting laterally through thesidewall of said dome, depending electrodes having their upper endsreceived in the dome and secured to said terminal memelectrodes,

bers, and an inner vessel surrounding said per end open and releasablysecured to the cover in communication with the steam dome and having itslower end apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity ofwater which is thereby substantially segregated from the main body ofwater contained in the outer vessel in order to permit the segregate tobe readily flashed into steam by supplying current to said electrodes,the steam thus generated being discharged to the atmosphere through thetop opening of the steam dome. y

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALLAN A. AITKEN.

said inner vessel having its up-

